Boulos says no immediate Sahara settlement in sight as US backs Morocco autonomy plan

The United States does not see an immediate settlement to the Moroccan Sahara dispute, Massad Boulos, U.S. President Donald Trump’s adviser for Arab and African affairs, said in a France 24 interview on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. “For now, we don’t have an imminent solution that we can feel or touch,” Boulos said when asked about the prospects for a near-term agreement. His comments come nearly a year after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2797, which calls for negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy proposal as a basis for reaching a final and mutually acceptable political settlement. Despite the lack of a breakthrough, Boulos said Washington’s position remains “very clear,” pointing to the U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and continued support for an autonomy arrangement under Moroccan sovereignty. Boulos highlighted the role played by U.S. diplomacy at the Security Council in securing the adoption of Resolution 2797 on Oct. 31, 2025, describing it as a “historic” development. Under the resolution, the parties are expected to submit proposals and comments on Morocco’s autonomy plan and engage in constructive talks aimed at reaching a political settlement. Three rounds of negotiations have already brought together representatives from Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario Front. Boulos described the talks as productive but acknowledged that they have yet to produce a mutually acceptable solution. Washington is still waiting for feedback from several parties on the Moroccan autonomy proposal, he said. Boulos also struck a conciliatory tone toward Algeria, describing the country as a “very good partner” of the United States and praising its government for contributing to the diplomatic process. He said Algeria cannot impose a solution to the Sahara dispute by force but can help move the negotiations forward by encouraging the parties to engage in the process. “There is still a road to travel,” Boulos said, adding that more work needs to be done as consultations continue. His comments come as the UN-led process faces another deadline. The current mandate of MINURSO is set to expire on Oct. 31.

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